Hot and Cold Kidney compress

Requisites: Hot water bag, ice bag, and material for abdomen pack.
Water temperature: 42–45°C.
Duration: 45 minutes.
Procedure: The flannel and dry cloth of the abdomen pack are spread out on the table or bed. The hot water bag is placed on this and the patient is made to lie down in such a way that the hot water bag extends from the mid spine to the lower spine. The ice bag is placed on the abdomen, extending up to the lower portion of the chest bone (sternum). The abdomen pack is wrapped over this.
Uses: Fomentation diverts the blood from the branches of the renal artery, which is connected to the kidney, and leads off a portion of it from the renal vein into the muscular branches. The cold application causes contraction of the blood vessels of the kidney and thereby increases its activity. This pack is useful in cases of acute congestion of the kidney and inflammation of the urinary tract. It strengthens the kidney and hence, useful in albuminuria (albumin outflow with urine), burning urination and stones in the kidney. This pack increases the output of urine.

Hot and Cold Gastro–Hepatic Compress

Requisites: Water temperature and duration as of kidney pack.
Procedure: This application is exactly the reverse of the kidney compress. Fomentation bag should be applied to the abdominal region covering the area from the 4th rib to the umbilicus, while the cold application is made to the middle and lower spine.
Uses: During this application the blood is drained from the stomach, liver, spleen and pancreas and congestion is relieved. Thus, this pack influences not only the stomach and liver, but also the spleen and the pancreas. It is helpful in cases of gastritis, liver and spleen enlargement, ulcers in the stomach, hyperacidity and inflammation of the pancreas. This pack is extensively used to treat diabetes mellitus.
Precautions: It is found that B.P. tends to increase temporarily after this pack, hence it should be taken only under a doctor’s guidance in case of hypertension. It is to be avoided in cases of mid and lower back pain.

Hot and Cold Pelvic Compress

In this the cold compress is applied over the lower back and fomentation over the pelvic region. This is useful in treating acute inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, prostate, testicles and appendix.